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December 30, 2007
Playing ‘save the toes’: Stranded hiker returns to Maryville
This story is a follow-up to an earlier story appearing in the Daily Times.
From the Maryville, TN based Daily Times.
By Rick Laney
of The Daily Times Staff
Bert Emmerson is back home after being stranded in the Gila Wilderness Area of New Mexico above 10,000 feet during a four-day snowstorm.
Since arriving back in Maryville shortly before Christmas, he has been to hospitals and doctors’ offices regularly. Although Emmerson’s feet were badly frostbitten during the incident, he believes he will keep his toes.
Emmerson is calm and reflective as he describes his ordeal — a common characteristic of long-distance hikers who sometimes spend months alone on the trail. He is even casual as he pulls back his socks to reveal his ravaged feet that look more like they lost a battle with a lawn mower than the victims of frigid temperatures.
“I’m playing ‘save the toes’ right now,” Emmerson said. “It looks like I’ll get to keep them.
“It’s really amazing how much better they are now. The first night was very painful — like a severe burn.”
Until a few weeks ago, Emmerson was hiking the Continental Divide Trail, a 2,567-mile trail from Canada to Mexico that stretches through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico. He started his journey at Glacier National Park in Montana on June 15 and has been hiking ever since. His plan was to reach the Mexico border and be home with his wife, Becky Emmerson, by Christmas.
Mixed blessing
While Emmerson did get to spend Christmas with his wife, the snowstorm kept him from completing the hike.
“It started snowing on Saturday, Dec. 8, and continued for the next four days,” Emmerson told The Daily Times during a telephone interview from New Mexico last week.
“I’m 5 feet 10 inches tall, and it got to where the tips of my mittens were dragging in the snow while I was walking.
“When my toes started to get numb, I got in my tent and crawled into my sleeping bag. My socks were frozen to my toes, and I knew I was in big trouble.
“The next morning, my toes were black — so I tried to follow a route down through the Gila Wilderness Area to a road that I planned to hike out on.”
Temperatures were reportedly 10 to 20 degrees below zero in the mountains where Emmerson was during the storm. In a wilderness area where people die every year, many consider Emmerson fortunate to have made it out alive.
When he arrived at a stranger’s home in the ghost town of Mogollon, N.M., on Dec. 17, Emmerson’s wife was just hours away from asking the New Mexico Police to launch a full-scale search and rescue mission.
She wasn’t sure where her husband was, but she knew it was desolate, steep and remote. The Gila Wilderness Area covers 3.3 million acres of forest and rangeland and is the sixth largest National Forest in the United States. There are six peaks in the Mogollon Mountains — where Emmerson was at the time of the snow storm — with elevations between 10,000 and 11,000 feet. He had described the area during the last phone call with his wife as being “in the middle of nowhere.”
“I hadn’t talked to him for almost two weeks and I was starting to get worried,” Becky said last week. “There really aren’t many good maps of that area — and the Continental Divide Trail has so many alternate routes.
“I had been talking to the police and forest service people in New Mexico. The police were helpful, but they said it was a 7,000-square-mile area and you can’t really search it.”
Retirement goals
Four years ago, Emmerson retired from the Tennessee Farmers’ Co-Op in Rockford where he was a plant manager for 13 years and started working part-time at Little River Trading Co., in Maryville. Originally from Kansas, he moved to East Tennessee in 1978 while working for ConAgra Foods.
During his first year of retirement, Emmerson hiked the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. The next year, he hiked the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail. He didn’t schedule any long-distance hikes for 2006, but started planning his Continental Divide Trail trek for 2007. On average, less than two dozen hikers attempt the six-month journey on the Continental Divide Trail each year.
When he completes the Continental Divide Trail, Emmerson will have finished all three of the major distance hikes in the U.S. — known in hiking circles as “The Triple Crown.”
Emmerson documents his hiking adventures with journal entries and photographs at www.trailjournals.com/wildcat.
“I’ll definitely finish the Continental Divide Trail,” Emmerson said. “Probably in late April or early May.
“The north-bound hikers usually set out at the end of April from Mexico, so I could possibly hook up with some of them when they’re getting started.
“I don’t really have it all planned out yet, and I’m flexible — but I’ll do it.”
With 7,000 hiking miles already under his belt, there’s no reason to doubt him.
Editors Note: Welcome home Wildcat! We wish you continued improved health in the New Year, and look forward to hearing about your completion of the CDT! We also thank the Staff of The Daily Times for covering this story/ (JH)
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 01:18 PM | Comments (0)
Wanted: Hikers to Help Defend the Hiking Experience
Illegal Motorized Use in the Nantahala National Forest
Photo taken by Jeffrey Hunter on the Fires Creek Rim Trail
Today the Sunday NY Times has a feature article entitled "Off Roading Surge Stirs Dust and Debate in the West." If you read the article, you get the impression that the problem with illegal and unregulated motorized recreation on public lands is restricted to the west. Of course, that's not so. In fact, the problem is widespread, and is acute in some areas here in the southeast and elsewhere across America.
As a hiker, few things upset me more than seeing the damage inflicted to trails and the public lands that surround trails by Off Highway Vehicles (OHVs). Over the last decade, OHV ownership has exploded. Unfortunately, law enforcement on our public lands has not kept pace with this destructive activity. The results of this are clear; eroded trails, illegal incursions into Wilderness areas, smoke and noise belching on our public lands, rare plants destroyed, frightened wildlife, and in many cases, a diminished hiking experience. Let's be clear. Regardless of your recreational interests, no one has the right to destroy our public lands!
As an staff member of American Hiking Society, few things make me prouder than our work to deal with the OHV issue. As the national voice for America's Hikers, we take few issues more seriously than this one. Here in the southeast I have worked with local trail clubs and the media to draw attention to this issue. In 2007, this resulted in an AP article calling attention to ATV damage on the Benton MacKaye Trail in NE Georgia. Our Western Public Lands Initiative Manager Seth Levy has been working hard on this issue, as has our policy expert and VP for Programs Celina Montorfano. Our Oregon based Recreation Policy Specialist Randy Rasmussen has also been hard at work on this issue.
As we enter into 2008, we need you, America's hikers, to join us, American Hiking Society. We will continue to raise our voices on this all important issue. With each new member, our voice grows louder, and our reach extends a little further. In other words, you can help us defend the hiking experience by joining us. Please resolve to join American Hiking Society today! This is one New Years Resolution that you can successfully accomplish in just a few minutes, and you can do so safely and securely on our website.
Thank you for your support! Happy (non-motorized) Trails in 2008!
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 11:59 AM | Comments (0)
December 28, 2007
And an Opossum in a Persimmon Tree
Persimmons are Visible in the Tree - if you Look Carefully
Lately there have been a lot of coyotes around our cabin. As a result, we're being extra attentive with our pets. Our 15 year old dog Sandy is hard of hearing and his sight is fading as cataracts cloud his vision. Our oldest cat Chuka had a couple of coyote encounters a few weeks ago, and has refused to venture outside since!
Last night while surfing the web, I heard a Great Horned Owl hooting just outside the cabin. I made my family aware not to let the cat out, as there was a predator in the area. A few hours later - just before bed, I grabbed the flashlight and took my dog out for his nightly walk. While scanning the trees for an owl, I came across an interesting sight! Up in our Persimmon Tree was an Opossum! No turtle doves though.
Now, I'm not unaccustomed to seeing Opossum. We had them in the Hudson Valley in New York, but that is towards the northern end of their range. The Opossum in New York often had frostbitten ears and tails, because with no hair to protect those extremities, they are susceptible to the freezing weather.
Back in the tree, my light caught the critters eye shine. I went back inside and summoned the family to take a look at the little feller. After snapping a few photos, I left the obviously shaken marsupial alone to forage in the tree. This morning I thought I'd share a couple photos with you.
I also found a Native American legend entitled Coyote the Hungry that I thought I'd share with you. It involves an Opossum, a Persimmon Tree, and a hungry Coyote. Enjoy!
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 07:57 AM | Comments (0)
December 25, 2007
Alone Across Alaska
I found this video online chronicling a walk/paddle across Alaska. Enjoy!
Alone Across Alaska from bucktrack.com on Vimeo.
To read more about Buck Nelson's adventure, visit his journal. What an adventure!
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 09:43 AM | Comments (0)
December 23, 2007
Who Moved My Glacier?
Here is an OP-Ed piece that appeared in today's NY Times. To read three other OP-ED pieces on our warming world, please visit the following link.
By JON CHRISTENSEN
Glacier Peak Wilderness Area, Wash.
“WE don’t need no stinking G.P.S.,” said our guide. It was getting late. And dark. We were descending from the summit of Glacier Peak in the Cascade Range, and our guide wasn’t sure where we were. It was unfamiliar terrain — the kind we’re all going to have to get used to traveling through and living in.
“That thing has been wrong all day,” the guide said as I pulled out my global positioning system receiver. He was a total gearhead, and I had thought he might appreciate my nifty new Garmin Gpsmap 60CSx. But he said, “If you’re always looking down at that thing, you don’t see the territory.” He glanced at his compass and then stared at the rocky ridges poking through the gloaming.
Continue reading "Who Moved My Glacier?"
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 12:19 PM | Comments (0)
Identify That Raptor - And the Answer!
Photo taken by Nancy Sims
Photo taken by Nancy Sims
Photo taken by Nancy Sims
Occasionally people send me photos of birds and ask me to identify the species for them. The images above were sent to me by my Son-in-Law Chad Stallings. The photos were taken by his boss' wife, Nancy Sims. Nancy was at home and saw the bird perched on her neighbor's car and took the above photos. Thanks Nancy!
Hint: While this photo could have been taken here in the southeast, it wasn't. It was taken in Colorado.
What do you think it is? And more importantly, why did you select the species for your guess? What are the field marks that give you clues?
Please post your guesses in the comment box below. I'll identify the species in a few day,
Good luck!
UPDATE: Congratulations to Andrea, who got the answer correct! This is an immature Cooper's Hawk. Note the long barred tail. That's the best clue to identifying the bird.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 09:25 AM | Comments (2)
December 22, 2007
North Shore settlement down payment approved
Editors Note: This is excellent news for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and just in time for the holidays! Special thanks are in order for Tennessee's Senator Lamar Alexander and North Carolina's Congressman Heath Shuler for championing this settlement!
Here's the story from the Asheville Citizen-Times. The Citizen-Times is my favorite daily newspaper in the southeast. Great reporting, and always on top of issues like this!
North Shore settlement down payment approved
By Mark Barrett
STAFF WRITER
December 20, 2007 11:52 am
WASHINGTON – The $555 billion budget bill approved by Congress Wednesday night includes a $6 million down payment on a cash settlement of the long-standing controversy over former plans to build a road through a remote section of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The bill, which President Bush is expected to sign in the next few days, is a key step toward compensating Swain County for a road along the north shore of Fontana Lake that has never been completed.
A park spokesman said the Department of the Interior will hold negotiations with other signatories to a 1943 agreement that called for the road to settle the issue. Swain leaders in recent years have endorsed a cash settlement of at least $52 million in lieu of the road.
The federal government agreed to build the road after World War II as part of a deal with Swain that added property along the north shore, isolated by the rising waters of Fontana Lake, to the park.
But the agreement was contingent on congressional approval of funds for the road and, as environmental problems and opposition mounted, Congress stopped funding the project and only a small portion of the road was ever built.
The $6 million is roughly the amount left over from an appropriation for an extensive Park Service study of the issue that recommends a cash settlement. People involved say it may take several years for Congress to appropriate the full amount of a settlement.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 07:35 AM | Comments (1)
December 21, 2007
Maryville, TN Hiker Survives Close Call on CDT
By Rick Laney
of The Daily Times Staff
Bert Emmerson is a serious hiker. The 59-year-old Maryville resident is chasing hiking’s “Triple Crown,” which includes the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail. With more than 7,000 miles logged and two of the three trails finished, Emmerson is less than 200 miles from achieving his goal — but his plans were put on hold this week in a remote area of southwest New Mexico.
On Monday afternoon, Emmerson knocked on the door of a complete stranger in Gila, N.M., and asked for help. His lips were black, and he couldn’t feel his hands. The toes on both of his feet were frostbitten, and he was running low on food after being caught above 10,000 feet in a four-day snowstorm. Temperatures were 10- to 20-degrees below zero and, as he tried to hike, the snow was nearly to his waist.
“It started snowing on Saturday, Dec. 8, and continued for the next four days,” Emmerson said during a telephone interview from New Mexico.
“I’m 5 feet 10 inches tall, and it got to where the tips of my mittens were dragging in the snow while I was walking.
“When my toes started to get numb, I got in my tent and crawled into my sleeping bag. My socks were frozen to my toes, and I knew I was in big trouble.
“The next morning, my toes were black — so I tried to follow a route down through the Gila Wilderness Area to a road that I planned to hike out on.”
The Continental Divide
The route Emmerson was taking on the Continental Divide Trail is 2,567 miles long and stretches through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico.
Emmerson started his journey at Glacier National Park on June 15 and has been hiking ever since. His plan was to reach the Mexico border and be home with his wife, Becky Emmerson, by Christmas.
The Continental Divide Trail climbs and descends the peaks of the Rocky Mountains from Canada to Mexico, traversing mountainside meadows, granite peaks and high-desert saddles. Through five states, 25 National Forests, 20 Wilderness areas, three National Parks, one National Monument and eight Bureau of Land Management Resource areas, the trail travels along the “backbone of America” through dramatic and wild backcountry.
Although he started his trek with a small group of other hikers, Emmerson had been hiking solo since he left the trail for a while at the beginning of September to attend his son’s wedding in New Hampshire.
“I had resupplied in Pie Town, N.M., on Dec. 3 and had about one week’s worth of food with me,” Emmerson said.
“I had planned to make it to a place called Doc Campbell’s in about nine days but, when it started snowing, I decided to do a road walk rather than risk getting lost on the trail.
“The road was 39 miles straight to the west — and as I walked, the snow just kept getting deeper and deeper.
“By the time I made it to the house in Gila, I had been out for two entire weeks.”
Back home in Maryville, Becky Emmerson was hours away from asking the New Mexico Police to launch a full-scale search and rescue mission.
She wasn’t sure where her husband was, but she knew it was desolate, steep and remote. The Gila Wilderness Area covers 3.3 million acres of forest and rangeland and is the sixth largest National Forest in the United States. There are six peaks in the Mogollon Mountains — where Emmerson was at the time of the snow storm — with elevations between 10,000 and 11,000 feet. He had described the area during the couple’s last phone call as being “in the middle of nowhere.”
“I hadn’t talked to him for almost two weeks and I was starting to get worried,” Becky said. “There really aren’t many good maps of that area — and the Continental Divide Trail has so many alternate routes.
“I had been talking to the police and forest service people in New Mexico. The police were helpful, but they said it was a 7,000-square-mile area and you can’t really search it.
“Then I ended up talking to another through-hiker who acted really concerned after hearing about Bert. That made me even more worried.
“When I found out that Bert hadn’t picked up one of his packages that he should have already had, I decided we were going to have to do something.”
Ghost town
Just as Becky was making plans to contact authorities in New Mexico, the phone rang and it was Bert. After hiking out of the Gila Wilderness Area, he came to the ghost town of Mogollon, N.M. — an abandoned mining town from the early 1900s that now boasts “five or six” residents.
Emmerson knocked on virtually every door in town, but most of the buildings were vacant. Finally, he reached Dan Ostler’s place.
Ostler, who said people die every year in the mountains around Mogollon, said Emmerson was a hero.
“Geronimo spent part of a winter up there,” Ostler said, “but he was in a cabin. Geronimo also had canned food — Emmerson had neither.
“Very few people walk out of there — actually only two in the last 17 years that I can recall. The first one who walked out had no snow, Emmerson had plenty of snow. I suspect two or three feet had accumulated before he got out.
“It really surprised me when he knocked on my door. There are so few people here, that you don’t really expect anyone to show up.”
Jokingly, Ostler said he expects to find a phone booth up in the mountains next spring when it warms up — because he knows Emmerson has a cape and superhero costume hidden somewhere.
“Very few human beings could survive up there in that,” Ostler said. “They find one to three bodies up there just about every year.
“Emmerson is a remarkable individual — a really good guy.”
No typical retirement
Four years ago, Emmerson retired from the Tennessee Farmers’ Co-Op in Rockford where he was a plant manager for 13 years. Originally from Kansas, he moved to East Tennessee in 1978 while working for ConAgra Foods.
During his first year of retirement, Emmerson hiked the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. The next year, he hiked the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail. He didn’t schedule any long-distance hikes for 2006, but started planning his Continental Divide Trail trek for 2007. On average, less than two dozen hikers attempt the six-month journey on the Continental Divide Trail each year.
Emmerson said, “Last year, when Becky wanted me to stay home and act normal, I worked at Little River Trading Company in Maryville part-time. I’m planning to go back to them — it’s a great store and I recommend Little River’s products to everyone. Most of my equipment is from Little River Trading Company.”
Emmerson was examined by a doctor on Wednesday and planned to return to Maryville today. According to Emmerson, the doctor said he wouldn’t lose his toes to the frostbite if he is careful with them in coming weeks.
“I was never really worried about being lost,” Emmerson said. “I knew where I was — within a mile or so — the whole time.
“I did get a little concerned about the Mexican grey wolves that were reintroduced into the wilderness area near Snow Lake, N.M. They can be aggressive toward humans.
“I had the black bears, the mountain lions, the coyote, the Mexican grey wolves and the creatures from outer space to contend with (a reference to the UFO conspiracy theories about Area 51 in Nevada) — but I wasn’t lost.”
Emmerson plans to go back to New Mexico next year and finish the Continental Divide Trail in April or May. He stressed that he would do this “after the weather breaks.”
To learn more about Emmerson’s hiking adventures and view photos from his trek, visit his online hiking journal at www.trailjournals.com/wildcat.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 08:17 AM | Comments (1)
December 20, 2007
American Hiking Society Action Alert!
Save Cumberland Trail State Park
Action Alert
Cumberland Trail Threatened by Unregulated Rock Harvesting!
This is YOUR Cumberland Trail State Park!
The Soddy Gorge segment of Cumberland Trail State Park is being hauled off a dump truck load at a time! This is an area where volunteers from all across the U.S. have spent thousands of hours to construct the Cumberland Trail! Not only is the trail being destroyed, but the gorge that this park is supposed to protect is being devastated. Furthermore, these “rock miners” can just leave, since there are no laws forcing them to reclaim and restore the land. The State of Tennessee took this issue to court but the judge ruled in favor of the mineral rights owner. The case is under appeal.
Cumberland Trail State Park Before Rock Harvesting
Cumberland Trail State Park After Rock Harvesting
A Damaged Section of Cumberland Trail State Park
Heavy Equipment in the Park
Road Built Over the Cumberland Trail
What Can You Do?
First, please read the information below to familiarize yourself with this issue. Afterwards we urge you to contact your State Representatives and ask them to amend the mining laws so this type of operation can be regulated. This is a problem not only on public land, but it can happen on private lands too. Now is the time to stand up and ask the people representing you to stop the wholesale destruction of the Cumberland Plateau! Tell everyone you know and get the word out!
Background
In the last decade, the Cumberland Trail Conference (CTC) has raised $1.7 million, provided more than half of the funds to purchase three watersheds (Rock, Possum, and Soddy Creek Gorges) in Hamilton County, and organized 150,000 volunteer hours to design, build, and maintain the Cumberland Trail. This trail is the central feature of the Cumberland Trail State Park. A long distance hiking trail stretching through 11 Cumberland Plateau counties. The Cumberland Trail is also part of the Great Eastern Trail; a long distance trail system stretching from Alabama to New York.
A large fraction of the volunteer hours was invested in the three watersheds and by December 2006, 35 miles of continuous trail was available for hiking and other outdoor recreational pursuits. Regrettably, these 35 miles did not remain open for more than a month. The state closed a section of the trail to public use because of the public safety concern caused by surface rock removal on park property. The holder of the mineral rights, LaHiere-Hill, claimed surface rocks are a mineral.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) filed a suit in the Hamilton County Chancery Court to stop the rock removal. The court opinion and order was issued on April 4, 2007. The order did not stop the rock removal on State Park land but provided limited protection for the trail. Since April of 2007, the rock removal operation has changed. Surface rock removal is now taking place deep within the gorge about 75 feet from the creek. A road goes to the bottom of the gorge and cuts across the trail, and several thousand tons of rock have been removed forever changing the character of the gorge.
Please take action today
Tennessee citizens are needed to help protect your Cumberland Trail State Park from unregulated rock harvesting. Please take a moment to call your State Senator and State Representative.
Find Your Tennessee State Senator
Find Your Tennessee House Representative
Once you have identified who your State Senator and House Representatives are, please call them and express your concerns about how rock harvesting is impacting the Cumberland Trail and the surrounding State Park. Timing is important, so we ask you to take action before January 8, 2008! Here are some points to emphasize;
- Ask your representatives to take action to regulate rock harvesting here in Tennessee.
- Specifically, your representatives can introduce or support legislation to limit the environmental impact these mining operations have.
- Ask your representatives to regulate the mining of limestone, sandstone, and dimension stone by amending the provisions of the “Tennessee Mineral Surface Mining Law of 1972." This will require those harvesting rock to reclaim the land after their mining operations are complete.
- The Cumberland Trail State Park was paid for by taxpayer dollars. This public asset is being destroyed and needs to be protected so future generations can experience the beauty of the Cumberland Plateau.
Thank you for taking the time to take action to protect your Cumberland Trail.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 02:11 PM | Comments (1)
Forest Service Closes Upper Tellico ORV Area for Winter
Kiosk at the Upper Tellico ORV Area
The Asheville Citizen Times is reporting that the Upper Tellico ORV area located on the North Carolina - Tennessee will close from January 1 - March 31 to reduce sediment loads in the Tellico River and to repair the trails. To learn more you can read the article in the Citizen-Times or download the Forest Service decision memo about the closure.
Sediment Pond at the Upper Tellico ORV Area
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 03:12 AM | Comments (0)
December 18, 2007
Green Ridge State Forest Becomes Part Of The Great Eastern Trail
Click on the Image Above to Download a PDF (21 KB) of the Press Release
On of the most significant developments resulting from American Hiking Society's Southeast Trail Program based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is the formation, naming and coordination of the Great Eastern Trail. It has truly been a privilege to work closely with groups like the Florida Trail Association, Alabama Hiking Trail Society, Alabama Trails Association, Georgia Pinhoti Trail Association, Cumberland Trail Conference, Pine Mountain Trail Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, West Virginia Scenic Trails Association, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC), Mid State Trail Association, Standing Stone Trail Club, Keystone Trails Association, and the Finger Lakes Trail Conference.
It has also been a distinct pleasure working with Francis "Champ" Zumbrun of the Green Ridge State Forest. His passion, desire and leadership on behalf of the Maryland DNR Forest Service has been inspiring. From day one, Francis saw the Great Eastern Trail as an opportunity to get people outside so that they can see first hand the value of protected open space. Thank you Francis!
I would also be remiss not to mention the support we have received from the National Park Service, the USDA Forest Service, as well as Georgia and Tennessee State Parks.
As 2007 comes to a close, I would like to urge all hikers and open space advocates to contact one of the trail clubs above, and get involved with the effort to build and maintain the Great Eastern Trail.
Another way to support the Great Eastern Trail is to make a donation to the Great Eastern Trail Association. Your contributions are needed
You can also support the work of American Hiking Society by becoming a member today. In addition to supporting our work on the Great Eastern Trail possible, your membership also supports trails all across America. Plus, you'll receive some great membership benefits including a subscription to American Hiker and Backpacker Magazine.
Thank you, and Happy Trails!
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 10:37 AM | Comments (0)
December 17, 2007
John McCain- Hiker
Recently the Associated Press asked the Presidential candidates what they like to do on a lazy day. One of them - John McCain - responded by saying he likes to hike. Here are the candidate's comments;
"Probably hiking around a place we have up near Sedona. It's so beautiful up there in the Red Rock country, and we have a place that's on Oak Creek. ... and we have picnics. It's not just strenuous hiking. You know, it's just kind of a recreational outing." In August 2006, he and son Jack hiked the Grand Canyon rim to rim — "which almost killed me and he thought was a day at the beach."
This is not an endorsement of any kind. In fact, American Hiking Society doesn't endorse candidates. It is simply a story in the news about a well known public figure who enjoys hiking.
Personally, I hope that all the candidates take some time to get out and hike! After all, hiking is a non-partisan activity.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 09:41 AM | Comments (0)
December 15, 2007
Planning a Backpacking Trip. What's Involved?
Jeff Brewer (L) and Jeffrey Hunter (R). Before arriving at the
John Muir Trail trailhead a lot of careful planning had to be done
So you want to go backpacking? It all starts with an idea. Wow, that place looks amazing! I have got to go hike there! What next? With the advent of the internet, planning a backpacking trip has become much easier. But there are still a number of steps that you must take that don't involve the 'net. In other words, the internet is not a panacea. And thank goodness for that!
Step One - Data Gathering
Once you determine where you want to hike, it's time to start gathering information. There are many sources for the data that you'll need, including the Land Management Agency responsible for the land that the trail crosses. This could include the USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, or any number of state agencies. You can also contact the local trail organization responsible for maintaining the trail that you want to hike. Additional information could be found from other sources such as publishers and map companies, and then there are first person trip reports. All of these sources are useful and play a role in the planning process. We'll revisit each of them below.
What sort of data are you looking for? Here's a shortlist;
- Maps. Maps are essential! Don't leave home without them! Carry a compass too and know how to use it!
- Guide Book. A guide book is not essential, but sometimes they are nice to have. They are often too heavy to carry on the trail, so they are almost exclusively used for pre-trip planning. They might provide information about the history or culture of the area surrounding the trail, as well as the history of the trail itself.
- Databook. A databook usually contains information related to available campsites, water sources, resupply points, road crossings, availability of services (laundry, outfitters, pizza joints, and perhaps a place to get a cold beer). Not every trail has a data book, but some do. Examples of trails with databooks are the Appalachian Trail, Colorado Trail and the Benton MacKaye Trail.
- Is a permit required? The Land Management Agency responsible for managing the landscape surrounding the trail can answer this question. Some popular National Park Service trails require a permit. Examples are California's John Muir Trail, Cumberland Island off the coast of Georgia, and backcountry areas of many of the most popular National Parks (Great Smoky, Shenandoah, and Grand Canyon are a few examples). Some Indian Nations may also require you to pay a fee or obtain permission before crossing tribal lands. If you plan to carry a fishing rod, as I sometimes do, be sure to purchase the appropriate fishing license. Many times short term licenses (3, 7 or 10 day periods) are available for non-residents. Be sure to understand the fishing regulations! They may vary from your home state.
- First Person Reports. While a databook and trail guide can tell you what a trail is like in past years, current conditions can vary based on climatic events. Storms can cause trails to close and drought can impact the availability of water. To obtain a first person trip report, you can visit hiking discussion groups on the internet, or check with the trail maintaining organization or land management agency.
Helpful Hint: As you proceed with the planning process, please remember that the revenue from the sale of maps and trail guides are often important for the non-profit trail maintaining organizations. When it comes time to purchase your guide books, maps and your databook (if available), please see if the trail maintaining organization sells what you are looking for.
Step Two - Gear
I am going to assume that if you have reached this step, that you already know a bit about gear, and own most of the required equipment. Some decisions still need to be made if you are hiking a new trail in an unfamiliar area.
- Climate. Checking the climate for the area you plan to hike will be important. This will help you determine what sort of sleeping system you'll be carrying. Insect populations may inform whether or not you'll take a tarp or a tent. The temperature will drive your decisions regarding sleeping bag and clothing. For instance, I plan to hike part of the Florida Trail in January. The clothing I carry and the sleeping bag I choose to bring will be different on this trail for a trip in January, than it will for a trip in April or May. Carrying the wrong gear can get you killed, so make sure that you plan thoroughly. Many times information about gear choices is available in the guide book for the trail you plan to hike.
- Stove systems. How are you getting to the trail? If you're driving, you have the most choices. If you choose to take an airplane, most stove fuels will not be permitted on a plane, so you will have to source your fuel (denatured alcohol, canister, or white gas) locally once you arrive at your destination.
- Water treatment. How will you be treating your water? Will you carry a filter, chemical treatment, or some other system. Do not forget to look into this important issue
- First Aid. Be sure to bring along some first aid supplies. While you probably don't need a two pound first aid kit, here are some things that I usually carry;
- Band aids of varying sizes
- Ibuprofin. This serves as an anti-inflammatory and a painkiller.
- Gauze pads. These can help stop bleeding in the event that you suffer a serious cut.
- Ace bandage. Although I have never needed one (yet!), this is carried in the event of a knee or ankle injury.
- Blister block. There are many different treatments available for blisters. Check with your local outfitter to see what products might work for you. Remember, if you feel a hot spot on your feet, stop immediately and treat the affected area. If you develop a blister, be sure to keep the area clean and as dry as practical.
- Neosporin. I will apply some to any cuts or blisters to avoid infection.
Step Three - Itinerary
So now you know where and when you are going. Now it's time to plan your itinerary. This is an important step that will help inform the next step in planning.
Why build an itinerary? Isn't a backpacking trip all about freedom? Yes, backpacking is indeed about freedom, but we can't simply go wherever we want. Hopefully each of you will learn and practice Leave No Trace principles while you are out on the trail. This step speaks directly to the first two principle;
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
For my next trip along the Florida Trail, while I am traversing the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, I will need to camp only in designated areas. That is the regulation at play where I am choosing to hike. That will limit my daily mileage through this 56 mile section of the Florida Trail. In the next few weeks, I will pour over the maps and choose campsites that come as close to 15 or 16 miles apart, since that's about the pace that I want to hike. I'd be willing to push that number to perhaps 20 miles, but no lower than 12. I'd prefer to hike all day than sit in camp.
Once I have selected my campsites, I can figure out how many days it will take to cross the Refuge. Then I need to look at the maps for the Apalachicola National Forest. Camping is less restrictive in the forest, but Bradwell Bay is a 20 mile slog through a marsh - with water occasionally waist deep - and an island 9 miles into the hike. If Bradwell Bay is in flood, we have only one choice for camping on our last night and that is on the island. Calls to the Florida Trail Association and the US Forest Service have indicated that Bradwell Bay is currently dry due to drought conditions. If those conditions persist, we may be able to walk 20 miles across Bradwell Bay in one day.
Another important logistical consideration is when we will arrive at the St. Marks River, where we will need to find a boat to take us across to the other side. We may need to reach the river crossing at a particular time in order to meet our shuttle. Those details have not yet been fully fleshed out for my upcoming hike, but they will need to be, unless I'm OK with potentially arriving when no one is available to take my friends and me across the river. That could result in an unplanned stay in a motel!
Helpful hint: Be sure to provide a copy of your itinerary to a friend or family member. Make sure they understand that the schedule is not set in stone, but let them know when you expect to return home. In the unlikely event that you become lost or injured, this could potentially aid in your rescue.
Step Four - Food
Ah, food! It is important to make sure that you bring along enough food to ensure that you have the strength to complete your hike. Here's a few pointers;
- Meal count. Once you have built your itinerary, count the number of meals that you'll need to make it through your hike. My Florida Trail hike will require 5 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 5 dinners.
- Resupply. Is resupply available along the trail? If so, at what point during your trip will you arrive at a store? Do you know what the store sells? What the store hours are? Another option for resupply is to mail yourself a package containing food and other items (medicines?) to a post office. Bear in mind that Post Offices have set hours, and are closed on Sundays. If you choose to send yourself a package to a Post Office, be sure to arrive when it is open. Packages should be addressed as follows; Hiker Name, c/o General Delivery, St. Marks, Florida 32355, * Please hold for Florida Trail hiker - eta 1/24/2008
- Extra food. Be sure to bring at least an extra day's supply of food. This is very important. If you become injured out on the trail or delayed for some unexpected reason, this may become invaluable.
- Cook or not? You'll need to determine how much stove fuel to carry on your trip. I usually calculate 2 oz. of denatured alcohol per meal. I don't cook at every meal however. Especially in the summer when the weather gets warm. I like to break camp early in the morning and get in some miles before it gets uncomfortably warm. A no cook breakfast helps me break camp early. You might prefer cooking every morning. That's the beauty of backpacking! You can do that if you like!
- Protecting your food. Some trails, such as the John Muir Trail in California have regulations that require you to carry your food in a bear resistant food storage containers. On the JMT you can rent a canister from the National Park Service, but bear in mind (no pun intended), that these canisters can be heavy and bulky. Be sure too leave space in your pack to fit a canister!
- Other food protection systems. Some trails install systems to help you safeguard your food. In the Great Smoky Mountains, a cable system allows you to store your food high off the ground at all shelters and campsites. On the Appalachian Trail in Shenandoah National Park, a bear pole system is located at each shelter. On the Appalachian Trail in New Jersey, a food storage box system is provided for hikers at shelters. In the absence of a system that is provided for you, you should know how to hang a bear bag, and do so at your campsite. This will protect your food and protect the bear population. Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear!
Helpful hint: If you mail your package USPS Priority Mail, the post office will provide the box and packing tape, and will forward your package on for free should you miss the resupply point. Be sure to check Post Office regulations for shipping fuel!
Step Five - Getting to the Trailhead
For this hiker, backpacking is all about relaxing and enjoying myself. The very last thing I want to do is worry about my car while I'm hiking. For that reason, I always do a little checking before simply leaving my car at a trailhead.
Call the local land management agency and the local trail club and ask about safe parking. Have there been incidents of vandalism or theft at the trailhead you hope to park at. If the answer is no, bear in mind that you are not guaranteed that someone won't break into your vehicle. Many trailheads are in remote areas. There are some simple precautions you can take.
- Valuables. Make sure that you leave no valuables in your vehicle while it is unattended. Do not leave anything in sight in your vehicle, including CDs, coins, wallets (doh!), or anything else! You do not want to give anyone incentive to break your car window!
- Consider a shuttle. An alternative to leaving your vehicle at an unattended lot, you can sometimes arrange a shuttle from a local resident. These locals are usually affiliated with the local trail club, and will allow you to leave your vehicle at a safe location and take you to the trail. The downside of this is, your car may not be waiting for you when you finish the trail.
Step Six - Miscellaneous
Some people take planning to the extreme. They plan out each evenings meal plan, dehydrate their own food, and make their own equipment. For many, this is as much fun as actually hiking! Have fun with it! Here are some additional tips;
- Cell phones. Don't count on cell service out on the trail! Many remote areas do not have cell reception. Also, be mindful of other hikers. In that regard, don't take out your cell phone and start yacking away in front of a group of hikers. Be discreet with your electronics. Many folks hike to get away from trappings of the modern world, and don't want to overhear your call to home.
Helpful Hint: Carrying your cell phone with the battery removed can help prolong battery life. Even with your phone turned off, the battery is draining if it is in your phone.
- Waterproofing electronics. If you choose to carry a camera, be sure to have a way to protect your camera (or GPS) from the elements. Zip lock bags are lightweight, and can help keep your electronics dry and functional.
- Journaling. Consider carrying a pen and paper with you and keep a journal out on the trail. Some websites provide electronic journaling. This can be a fun way to keep your friends and family informed about your adventures.
- Leave No Trace. Be sure to practice Leave No Trace principles out on the trail. This will help protect natural areas for future generations to experience. This includes burying your waste in a properly dug cathole, at least 200 feet away from the trail and any water sources. Some areas, such as Mt. Whitney in Sequoia National Park require you to use a Wag Bag instead of digging a cat hole.
- Toe nails. Keep 'em clipped! Failure to do so can result in blistered toes.
- Hygiene. Backpacking requires you to defecate in the woods where there is no hot running water. Be sure to carry some hand sanitizer, and use it! Also, don't allow other hikers to reach into your food back to share your GORP. While you might practice good hygiene, you can't assume that your hiking partner is doing so. Allowing someone to touch your food is a recipe for getting sick. So don't do it! You can always spill some GORP out into your friend's hand without allowing them to touch your food.
- Have fun! Hiking is a great way to experience the natural world. It's also a low cost way to stay in shape and a great family activity. Enjoy yourself! Take pictures! Savor the memories!
- Poisonous plants. Be sure that you know what poison ivy, poison oak, and other poisonous plants look like. You can end up with a nasty allergic reaction if you are not careful.
- Join American Hiking Society! As the national voice for America's Hikers, we are always at work protecting trails and the natural areas that surround them. But we can't do it without your help!
This document should not be viewed as a complete guide to planning. It was created to emphasize the importance of the planning process. I welcome feedback and suggestions for making this a better planning primer.
Happy Trails!
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 02:05 PM | Comments (0)
December 13, 2007
Political Cartoon of the Year!
Used by Permission of Pat Bagley
© 2007, The Salt Lake Tribune and Pat Bagley
Tell me fellow hikers. Ain't it the truth?
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 11:53 AM | Comments (1)
Sex in a Tent
No, this isn't a shameless ploy to increase visitation to this site. Nor is it a manipulative way to try and convince my wife to come backpacking with me. There is a new book written by Michelle Waitzman entitled Sex in a Tent. The new book (Oct. '07) is published by Wilderness Press.
The author is from New Zealand, and has a blog entitled Love in a Tent.
Here is a brief excerpt from Michelle's new book. As a married man with a wife who doesn't generally camp with me, I find this information very informative. I'll have to try to use some of these suggestions as a rationale for hiking/camping together in the new year.
Top 10 Reasons to Camp Together
If a book doesn't fill your gift need, please consider ordering an American Hiking Society Gift Membership Bundle, or some great Organic Coffee for the hiker in your life! 10% of all coffee sales benefit American Hiking Society's work in the southeast.
Here's to hiking and camping with your significant other in 2008! Happy Holidays to all the hikers out there!
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 11:16 AM | Comments (1)
December 12, 2007
2008 American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacations Announced!
Discounts Offered Through February 29, 2008
An American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacation is a week-long trail stewardship project based somewhere on America’s public lands. Although volunteer travel seems like a fairly new and hot trend, American Hiking Society’s Volunteer Vacation program will be entering its 30th year in 2008, making us a trustworthy leader in volunteer tourism. This year’s schedule includes 75 diverse projects in 25 states across the country. They are a great chance to visit stunning locations, meet interesting people, learn new skills and have an amazing experience, all while giving back. Locations such as the Francis Marion National Forest in South Carolina, The Great Eastern Trail through Virginia and Mount Rogers National Recreation Area will fill up fast, so book your space now at the following link.
We are offering a 10% discount on the registration fee if registering before February 29, 2008. This makes the registration fee only $220 (a $245 value that includes food and park/camping fees and/or lodging).
Please be patient with us while we roll out a new website. The new site will have improved search features, photo galleries and much more great information. So please check back in January.
For more information, please contact Andrea Ketchmark at 301-565-6704 ext 206. You can also download the Volunteer Vacations 2008 brochure (PDF 529 KB) and select your project today!
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 10:30 AM | Comments (0)
December 11, 2007
Where will you hike in 2008?
With 2007 nearly finished, I have started to look ahead to plan some hiking and backpacking for next year.
First on deck is the Florida Trail in January. A few friends and I plant to hike approximately 90 miles of the trail over a 6 day period. This includes all of the Florida Trail in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and the Bradwell Bay Wilderness (part of Apalachicola National Forest). As a birder, I'm really looking forward to the hike in St. Marks NWR. An employee at the NWR informed me the other day that ducks should be plentiful in the refuge in January.
Bradwell Bay is normally a 19 mile slog through a marsh, with water up to ur waist or higher. Because of a drought, the area is dry, so that should speed our progress, but make the hike less interesting.
In late July my daughter Martha and I plan to hike the John Muir Trail in California. I hiked the JMT in August 2006, and it was nothing short of amazing. Martha graduates from high school this year, and wants to do a big trail with me. At approximately 221 miles, which scenic beauty everywhere, this should be a blast.
I just picked up the new trail guide from Wilderness Press entitled "The John Muir Trail: The Essential Guide to Hiking America's Most Famous Trail." The guide is a big improvement over the book I used to plan my hike in 2006. I also just received the Tom Harrison map set for the trail.
Next step? Training! Martha and I hiked 4 miles from our cabin at Reflection Riding to Sunset Rock located in the Chickamauga Chattanooga National Military Park. The route is approximately 4 miles, and we hope to hike it 100 times between now and our JMT hike. I'm really thrilled to share this goal with my daughter, and look forward to the next few months. I'll share some photos from our training hikes in the coming months. In the meanwhile, you can look at the trail map for Lookout Mountain (PDF 153 KB) to get an idea where we'll be training.
So where are you planning to hike in 2008? The Bartram Trail? In the Great Smoky Mountains? The Pinhoti Trail or out on Cumberland Island off the coast of Georgia? Please take a moment to tell us where you plan to hike by posting a message in the comment box below.
Happy Trails!
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 09:22 AM | Comments (1)
Corridor K Economic Study Released
Corridor K continues to remain a concern for many in the hiking, conservation and environmental communities, not to mention hunters and fisherman. Concerns exist because of the potential impact of a new 25-mile, 4-lane highway that could potentially be constructed across the Cherokee National Forest near the Ocoee Gorge - east of Cleveland, Tennessee.
Today, Wilbur Smith Associates released a long awaited Economic Development and Transportation Summary related to the Corridor K project. While I have not yet had time to review this report in detail, I am making it available for concerned citizens to look at here.
Corridor K in a Global Economy: A Summary of the Economic Development and Transportation Study. (113 KB)
Stay tuned for more information about Corridor K as studies related to the project, including the development of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) are completed. This process will take several years to unfold, but we will follow along closely until our concerns are resolved.
In the meanwhile, please Join American Hiking Society. Your support helps us in our efforts to protect hiking trails and the natural areas that surround them.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 08:39 AM | Comments (0)
December 10, 2007
Bill McKibben in Chattanooga
On November 6, 2007, noted author and environmentalist Bill McKibben came to town to speak at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The event was sponsored in part by the Benwood Foundation.
McKibben's talk was both inspiring and thought provoking. He talked at length about the importance of local economies. Much of the talk centered around information contained in his recent book entitled Deep Economy.
The Benwood Foundation has made excerpts of McKibben's talk available in a short and hopeful video. Please take a moment to view it!
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 04:23 PM | Comments (0)
December 04, 2007
American Hiking Society's Special Gift Membership Bundle!
A Great Gift for that Special Hiker in Your Life!
The holidays are almost here. If you're looking for a gift idea for that special person in your life, American Hiking Society has exactly what you're looking for! Our Gift Membership Bundle includes a one year membership in American Hiking Society, a pair of top of the line commemorative Leki Super Makalu Antishock trekking poles (complete with rubber tips!), and a Nalgene water bottle. All for only $100! The gift membership also includes a one year subscription to Backpacker Magazine!
To order this package valued at over $200, please visit the American Hiking Society's Hiker's Store. Happy Holidays!
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 09:00 PM | Comments (0)